Wichita eagle., 1887-01-13

of every citizen, is nevertheless a source OF
Just anxiety and apprehension While cur
great railway corporations are, in theory,
the mere creatures of the state, they are
really organized for the personal profit Of
their owners and managers, and unless reg
uluted and controlled BY just laws they
may exert their vast powers to injure or
Cypress the people 1t is, therefore, alike
The right and the duty of the state to exert
lis authority to protect each and all of It's
citizens against extorti0ns or discrimina-
tons by the Railways.
Experience has confirmed the opinion |
expressed TWO wears a-o that the commits
sioner system. aith ample powers vested in
| the commission Is the best method of deal
| ing with or regulating railroads. The rail
| road commissioners If Kansas have been
| able. without friction or serious difficulty.
not only to amicably adjust Il very large
! number of controversies but TO bring about
/ large ana imp rtant reductions in freight
rates, During the fiscal year ended June
! 30, 1888. the gross receipts from freight of
all railroads reporting TO the commissioners
amounted to $45, 1876 81 81. During the
I fiscal year ended June 80, | Sc. the freight
traffic over the same roads exceeded that of
1888 fully 1919, 351 tons, or % per cent,
TINS largely increased tonnage WAS, how
ever transported over the same railroads.
for the Year ending June 30, 1886. at Il to-
tai charge of 81. 1872 pa %, or 81, COB.
U31 80 les than the asiount collected on
fh,-i,--rr Tonnage of 1888. The reduction of
freight rates effected by the commissioners
curing n past three Years has been fully
% per ccnr.
Tnerr ar. however some legal restrain Is
and regal, ions which only the law making
pow cr IA pro; ide The railway COPPER
Il oti> ~hnril' be prohibited from engaging.
al her tirr,3iy OF indirectly in any other
b l>inr>s ,.xryt5t thai If common carriers.
/ tics. -.rc.t. corporations are allowed To
ca D,rS 40 commercial. industrial or agfi-
cultural pursuits. individual enterprise i, /
paraiy zst legitimate competition Is made /!
impossible ;,ui The railway companies will /
soon monopOiZ: every business that should I
afford full >c0p,: for The personal energies /
Of the people The great and startling /
peril of the future if Indeed it is Not Il
danger present and immediate, lies in thu. /
vast and iuexnrabr Accommodations of cap
tai which are steadily bat surely driving (
Individual effort and industry from all I
field, Of human activity. l. is an impera
tive duty Of The ls.w-making power, nation /
Il Is sci! IT, state 10 cheek these ruinous /.
tendencies to corporate and syndicate or
gauiZ1Fi0n, and 10 d" it promptly, vigor- /
orott,ly and thoroughly
The issuing of - called ''watered stock"
should also be prohibited, under the sever
ct penalties No railway company should
be permitted to iS-ue Il single dollar of
stock in excess of he actual cost of build !
Ing and eqlipping lis road.
Some means >hsiIl | also be devised TO
comprl foreign corporations to pav their
just proportion OF taxes on cars used in the /
carry ing trade Of Kansas The Pullman
Car company ana dozen, of fast freight I
ana other companies have constantly III /
Use, in Kansas. hundreds of cars GU which /
not dollar of tax is ever paid The tax /
dodging praclced by these wealthy c0rDnr- /
atinns is not only IN outrage on the people. /
who are compelled to boar burdens thus
>hirked. but /, Insulting to the dignity ANA /
authority IF tI,. State Measures should be /.
adopted Il enforce the payment of taxes on I
cars thus usei in Kansas II no other /.
remedy can be found. the railways of kar- /
s;is should be prohibited from using cars On /
which taxes are not paid
The fall and comprehensive report of the /
State Board of Railroad commissioners fur I
nl~hes nany Suggestions ami mulch valaa /
Die Information touching our rail WAYS !
their management, receipts expenditures
and Indebtedness and their carving trade |
during the pasi year JOHN A MARTIN.
Executive Office, Topeka, Kan, Jan.
nth 1897